The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-04
DAMAGED BY THE DROUGHT
The Continued Hot Weather Has Some
what Serious Effect Upon Crops.
The Corn and Potato Crops Suffer Most, but
There Is Yet Some Hope for the Former
if Rains Come Soon.

The worst effects of the protracted hot leather
IS seen on the lawns and in the yards about the
city. 1t is only by constant sprinkling that the
grass is kept in anything like decent order.
flowering plants and vines too, whitening,
and IN many places where would expect to
see sumner beauties there are the marks of
early decay. What is true of the city is many
times worse in the country where the drought has
LETT its impress upon field after field Of growing
corn, and throughout the State pasturage
too has suffered. and with it wells have become
dry and small streams have been used up. This
makes 1t very difficult to provide for stock. As
IN 1851, farmers have to drive their stock In
some places many miles for water. But corn
and potatoes more seriously affected than
the grasses and while the latter are withered it
only needs good rain to freshen them, as the
roots OF grasses remain sturdy and full OF life
during the most prolonged drought. 'In 1884,"
said Col. John b. Conner, editor
Of the Indiana Farmer, yesterday,
"a September rain restored ihs
pasturage when it almost burned out. Aft, r
shat rain the grass came up luxuriantly. AS for
corn, am not one of those who think it must
mature in July and August to make good crop.
That is mistaken notion. While it is now Sc
riously affected, rain as late the LIST of Sep
temoer Will enable 1t to recover and
ripen during that month and the
first half of October. I have noticed
that late frost al ways followed such hot spells
as we have now. Temperature. therefore, will
be favorable for corn in the late autumn if
only have rain assist it to maturity. Many
farmers here cutting their for fodder
They ought not to do SO as there is plenty of
time to get crop This season is great dea!
like that of 1881, but the drought has not been
bad Four years the rainfall in
June was only .e2 of an inch, while
that in July fell to sc. Tba.
year there was but half the usual rainfall in
May. This year We have had better conditions,
aud as three fourths of the corn in 1881 rlpenea
in September and October, there is necessity
for becoming alarmed just now over the condi-
ton of that grain. On the very heavy untitled
clay land corn will do little or nothing. A late
rain. though. will help even that to produce
nubbns, but merchantable corn"
While the present condition of corn promises
from rs to II per cent, the late potato crop will
be red aced ne-half. Potato tops will stay
green under drought like corn hence they lose
their vital strength and the tubers dry and wither
in the ground. The crop is very large west of
the Mississippi river but III this State. Michigan
and Illinois it is claimed there will be
last year. Early potatoes ripened, though,
before the dry weather began. and gave very
good crop Secretary Heron, of the State Agri-
cultural Board, has just returned from Canada,
where he says corn and potatoes are even worse
than here In Indiana he thinks there will be
a good yield of oats and hay, but he does
count on mare than a half crop of corn. Local
showers have been of some benefit, but the whole
State is sadly in want of drenching rains.